Music-leaf turner.



Patented Sept. l8, I900. E. W. EATON.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

(Application filed Jan. 18, 1900.|

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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E. W. EATON.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

(Application filed Jun. 18, 1900.7

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

ETHAN W. EATON, OF SOOORRO, TERRITORY OF NEIV MEXICO, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH I. EATON, NESTOR P. EATON, EDWARD O. EATON, WVILLIAM J. EATON, AND ROBERT EATON, OF SAME PLACE.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

stscmcmoa forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,208, dated September 18, 1900.

Application filed January 18, 1900. Serial No, 1,894. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ETHAN W. EATON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Socorro, in the county of Socorro and Territory of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Leaf Turners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to music-leaf turners, the object being to provide a device of this character which may be readily operated by pressing a key or keys with the finger and which will support the sheet of music adjustably.

The construction of the improvement will I 5 be fully described hereinafter and defined in the appended claims, in connection with the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a music-leaf turner embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sec tion through one of the side bars of the leafsupporting rack. Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing one of the rods for securing and releasing the pivoted arms carrying leaf-en gaging clamps. Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing the gearing and rod for returning the pivoted arms to their normal positions after 0 they have been released by their springs. Fig. 6 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, through the gearing on the retractingshaft. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section showing one end of one of the clamp-carrying arms and its operating-spring, and Fig. 8 is a vertical section showing the bent lower ends of the rods for throwing the clamp -carrying arms andtheir operating-keys.

The reference numeral 1 designates a board or frame, of rectangular shape, formed with a central vertical recess 2, and at opposite sides of said central recess 2 with recesses 3 and 1.

5 and 6 designate cross-bars or flanges secured, respectively, to the upper and lower edges of the board 1, and 7 is a bracket or cleat secured to the board near the upper flange 5 and parallel thereto.

IVithin the central recess 2 is arranged an oscillating shaft 8, supported in'bearings in the lower cross-bar 6 and bracket 7. Upon the upper end of the shaft 8 is mounted a gear-wheel 9, and the lower end of said shaft is bent to form a crank-handle 10.

The upper cross-bar 5 and bracket 7 are formed with alined openings 11 and 12, serving as bearings for an arbor 13, upon which are mounted looselya plurality of lever-arms. I show in the drawings two of these arms 14 and 15, each formed at its inner end with an opening for the passage of the arbor 13 and rounded, as shown best in Fig. 7, and formed with gear-teeth 16. The under surface of each of the arms 1 1 and 15 is formed with an annular recess 17, surrounding the arbor, and within said recess is arranged a coilspring 18, one end of which is secured to the arbor and the other to the arm, as shown in Fig. 7. The inner ends of the arms 14 and 15 are separated from each other and from the cross-bar 5 and bracket or cleat 7 by washers 19.

Upon the outer free end of each of the arms 14 and 15 is arranged a clamp, of any suitable construction, adapted to engage a leaf of music. The clamps shown in the drawings are laterally adjustable to engage sheets of different widths, and each comprises a strip of sheet metal bent upon itself to form a loop or keeper 20, embracing the arm and clamping-jaws 21 and 22, a U-shaped yoke 23, riveted to the jaw 22, and a cam 24:, mounted in bearings in the yoke 23 and having a fingerpiece or lever 25.

The edge of the lever-arm 14 is formed with a notch 26, having a shoulder 27 adapted to be engaged by a spring-catch 28, secured at one end within a recess 29 of the frame and hooked at its outer free end 30. The edge of the arm 15 is formed with a notch 31, hav- 9o ing a shoulder 32. The shoulder of the notch 31 is adapted to be engaged by a spring-catch 34, similar to the catch 28, but longer than the latter.

35 and 36 designate crank-shafts arranged 5 within parallel recesses formed in the board 1 and provided at their lower ends with cranks 37 and 38, located within a recess 39 in the lower cross-bar 6. The upper end of each of the crank-shafts is provided with a finger 40, arranged to bear against the spring-catches 28 and 34, as shown in Fig. 2, to disengage said catches from the shoulders 27 and 32 of the clamp-carrying arms 14 and 15. Each of the cranks 37 and 38 is provided with a key or press-button 41 for operating the crankshaft.

Within each of the recesses 3 and 4 is secured a bar 42, formed for a part of their length with rack-teeth 43. Over each of the recesses 3 and 4 is secured a longitudinallyslotted plate 44, and within the slots thereof are guided parallel bars 45, secured at their lower ends to a horizontal bar 46, serving as a rest or rack for a sheet of music. The up per ends ofthe bars 45 are provided with projecting lugs 47, which engage the under surfaces of the slotted plates 44 to retain the bars in position and guide them in their movement. The lower ends of the bars 45 are formed with beveled projections 48, (see Fig. 3,) which serve as pawls to engage the teeth of the bars 42 and support the rack 46 at any adjusted position.

The operation of the mechanism constructed as above described is as follows: When the arms 14 and 15 are engaged by their spring-catches 28 and 34, which is their normal position, the clamps carried bysaid arms each engage a leaf of the music, the clamp of the lower arm 14 engaging the first sheet to be turned. Then by pressing upon the key of the crank-shaft 35 said shaft is rocked, causing its finger 40 to release the catch 28, when the coil-spring 18, arranged within the recess 17 of the arm 14, throws said arm over, carrying with it the leaf of the music-sheet. The arm 15 and as many others as may be employed are operated in like manner, thus enabling a performer to turn his music by the mere pressing of a key. To return the arms to their normal position, the crank-handle 10 of the shaft 8 is turned, causing the gear-wheel 9 on said shaft, which meshes with the teeth of the lower arm 14, to move said arm to the right, and the contact of the arm 14 with the clamp of the arm 15 raises the latter also and carries it back into engagement with its spring-catch.

The rack 46 may be readily adjusted vertically to accommodate music-sheets of varying size by raising the pawls 48 out of engagement with the rack-teeth and sliding the rack downward, or it may be moved upward freely over the inclined surfaces of the teeth, as will be obvious.

I preferably provide the upper end of the arbor 13 with a fixed ratchet-wheel 49,adapted to be engaged by a spring-pawl 50, secured to the upper cross-bar 5, and within the upper end of the arbor is a central cross-bar 51, adapted to be engaged by a key or implement to wind or tension the springs 18.

WVhile the construction above described and illustrated in the drawings is a practical embodiment of the invention, I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to all of the details here shown and described, but reserve the right to make all such modifications and variations in the details of construction as may properly fall within the scope of my invention, as defined in the following claims.

I claim- 1. In a music-leaf turner, the combination with a board or frame; of a plurality of pivoted spring-controlled levers; clamps carried thereby; spring catches engaging said levers crank-shafts for releasing said catches; keys for turning said shaft; and a shaft geared to one of said levers for returning the lever& to their normal position.

2. In a music-leaf turner, the combination with a board or frame; of an arbor supported at the upper end of said frame; plurality of levers pivotally supported upon said arbor, and recessed adjacent thereto; coilsprings within said recesses secured at one end to the arbor and at their opposite ends to the walls of the recesses; clamps on the ends of said levers; spring-catches for engaging the levers; means operated bya pushkey for releasing said catches, and means for rengaging the levers with their catches comprising a shaft geared to one of said levers.

3. In a music-leaf turner, the combination with a board or frame, of an arbor supported at the upper end of the frame; a plurality of spring-controlled levers supported on said arbor; adjustable clamps on the free ends of the levers; spring-catches for engaging the levers; means for releasing the catches; and means for reengaging the levers with their catches comprising a shaft geared to one of said lovers.

4. In a music-leaf turner, the combination with a board or frame, of an arbor supported at the upper end of the frame; a plurality of spring-controlled levers supported on said arbor; adjustable clamps supported upon said levers; spring-catches for engaging the levers; means for releasing said catches, comprising crank-shafts carrying fingers bearing upon said catches; and means for reengaging the levers with their catches, comprising a rock-shaft geared to one of said levers, and provided with a handle.

5. In a music-leaf turner, the combination with a board or frame, of an arbor supported in bearings at the upper end of the frame; a

plurality of spring-controlled levers loosely mounted on said arbor, each of said levers being formed on its inner edge with a shouldered notch; spring-catches for engaging said shoulders; means for releasing said catches; and means for turning the levers back into engagement with their catches.

6. In a music-leaf turner, the combination geared to one of said levers to reengage the 10 parallel arms provided with pawls and a transverse bar secured thereto; guides for said arms; and rack-bars secured to the frame adapted to be engaged by said pawls.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ETHAN W. EATON.

Witnessesi A. E. HOWELL, E; L; SMART. 

